After a promotional campaign that got off to an extraordinarily creepy start, The Gift went relatively quiet for the past couple of months. But perhaps it was just been lulling us into a false sense of security, because now the thriller is back with another unsettling trailer.

Joel Edgerton‘s directorial debut stars himself as Gordo, who reconnects with an old classmate named Simon (Jason Bateman). But their reunion isn’t as fortuitous as it seems. Gordo apparently harbors an ancient grudge against Simon, and his reappearance threatens to destroy Simon completely. Rebecca Hall stars as Simon’s wife Robyn. Watch the new The Gift trailer after the jump. Read More »

April isn’t even 48 hours old but at the movie theater, summer has already begun. With tonight’s opening of Furious 7, the trend of major blockbusters opening well before the first weekend in May continues. Fast Five, The Hunger Games and Captain America: The Winter Soldier are a few recent examples; next year, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will open over a month before the traditional first weekend of summer. Let’s face it. It might be Spring outside, but it’s Summer at the movies.

With that in mind, the /Film crew decided to rank our most anticipated films of the season. Everyone on staff (Peter, Russ, Angie, David, Devindra, Angie, Chris, and myself) ranked their 20 most anticipated movies of summer 2015, those rankings were given point values, and then an overall list was created.

Reconnecting with an old friend sounds pretty nice, especially if said friend turns out to be a generous and thoughtful gift-giver. But in the first The Gift trailer, Simon (Jason Bateman) quickly realizes that his new old friend Gordo (Joel Edgerton) has a dark side — and that he could wind up exposing some of Simon’s unsavory secrets, too.

Edgerton directed and Rebecca Hall also stars. Hit the jump to watch The Gift trailer, and also to see the incredibly unsettling message “Gordo” personally sent Peter ahead of the trailer debut. Our boss will probably want to sleep with one eye open tonight. Read More »

Though it started as a very insider thing, The Black List has recently become more popular and mainstream. For those who may not know, it’s an annual list of the year’s best unproduced screenplays as voted on by about 300 Hollywood development executives and high-level assistants. We recently posted the 2010 list and looking back at some previous years (2007, 2008, 2009), films such as Recount, The Beaver and The Social Network all sat near the top of the list. Skim over any of them and you’ll see names of films that are out, are coming out and more. It’s a big deal.

This year, a new Black List of sorts has come out. Dubbed Viewfinder, it’s supposed to do for directors what The Black List did for screenwriters. Viewfinder is a compilation of “the top commercials, shorts and/or music videos of 2010.” Several of the directors on the list already have deals or are in production on films. We’ve even written about a few of them on /Film. For others, though, this could be their big break. After the jump, check out the full list and link to the page where you can watch all the videos including the #1 film on the list, Ricardo de Montreuil’s The Raven, seen above. Read More »

In April, Philips released their collaboration between five filmmakers from Ridley Scott Associates, called Parallel Lines. Scott’s commercial division RSA was asked to create a series of short films in a genre of their choice, using “the same unifying theme.” RSA directors submitted forty-five treatments and Philips selected five it believed were most ground-breaking: Jake Scott, Greg Fay, Johnny Hardstaff, Carl Erik Rinsch, and Hi-Sim.

Parallel Lines also received a Grand Prix for Direction, marking the second consecutive year a Philips campaign has received the jury’s highest accolade, and the first back-to-back awarding of a Lions Grand Prix to a brand.

In April, Philips released their collaboration between five filmmakers from Ridley Scott Associates, called Parallel Lines. Scott’s commercial division RSA was asked to create a series of groundbreaking short films in a genre of their choice, using “the same unifying theme.” RSA directors submitted forty-five treatments and Philips selected five it believed were most ground-breaking: Jake Scott, Greg Fay, Johnny Hardstaff, Carl Erik Rinsch, and Hi-Sim.

Rinsch was originally tapped to direct a prequel/remake of Alien, but Fox convinced/pushed Ridley Scott to helm the project himself. Rinsch’s commercials show an amazing sense of imagination, visual effects artistry and composition (watch them now). The Gift spawned a bidding war between several big Hollywood movie studios, including Warner Bros and Fox, to turn the short film into a feature. We even broke more information about the project, titled Small, and posted some leaked concept renderings. Rinsch is developing a remake of Creature From The Black Lagoon and is in preproduction on anepic period samurai film titled 47 Ronin to star Keanu Reeves, also for Universal. 20th Century Fox considered the filmmaker for the Bryan Singer-produced X-Men Origins: First Class, but Carl ultimately lost out to Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn. It was recently announced he will direct a remake of Logan’s Run for Warner Bros.

A couple days ago we posted a short film by Ridley Scott protege Carl Erik Rinsch. Titled The Gift, the futuristic action thriller tells the story of a robotic manservant who must go on the run from the Russian police. The short quickly spread around the internet (if you haven’t watch it yet, click here). In my original posting I commented that “I really wish we could see more of this world, and I’m excited to see what Rinsch might be able to do with a feature project.” Yesterday word dropped that a bidding war had begun between several big Hollywood movie studios, including Warner Bros and Fox, to turn the short film into a feature. “It’s all happening.”

I have found out some more information. Apparently the movie studios aren’t interested in Rinsch developing a feature length adaptation of his short film The Gift…

They aren’t interested in developing a feature out of the short because, well, the feature film has already been developed.

That’s right, the short film is based on a feature film that Carl Erik Rinsch has already written and designed. The studios are in a bidding war over a packaged project. We even got our hands on some leaked concept art from the film. But check it out now while you still can, as I’m not sure how long it might be online! More images and information, after the jump.

Yesterday we posted a short film by Carl Erik Rinsch‘s called The Gift, a futuristic action thriller which involves a robotic manservant on the run from the Russian police.Our headline contained the words “Watch This Now”, but I know some of you probably didn’t. Well here is your second chance – click here. In my posting yesterday I commented that “I really wish we could see more of this world, and I’m excited to see what Rinsch might be able to do with a feature project.” It looks like we might get to see both…

Sources tell HeatVision that the release of the short film has spawned a bidding war between several big Hollywood movie studios, including Warner Bros and Fox. Everyone wants to turn the short film into a feature. The site speculates that a feature film adaptation of the short will probably end up at 20th Century Fox because of Ridley Scott’s longtime association with Fox (Rinsch is not only Ridley Scott‘s protege, but also a commercial director for Scott’s company RSA). But one must also remember that Rinsch is currently developing a remake of Creature From The Black Lagoon and is in preproduction on an epic period samurai film titled 47 Ronin to star Keanu Reeves, both for Universal. So I also wouldn’t be surprised if the project ended up at Universal.

Philips has just released Carl Erik Rinsch‘s futuristic action thriller short film The Gift, which is about a robotic manservant who flees the police. Rinsch is not only Ridley Scott‘s protege, but also a commercial director for Scott’s company RSA.

You might recognize Rinsch’s name as he was originally tapped to direct a prequel/remake of Alien, but Fox convinced/pushed Ridley Scott to helm the project himself. I was one of the few people actually interested in Rinsch’s involvement. Rinsch’s commercials show an amazing sense of imagination, visual effects artistry and composition. We’ve profiled his amazing commercials on the site, more than once. If you havent checked his television spots out yet, you should do after watching this short film.